Western Lesser Siren
Siren intermedia nettingi
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- S. i. nettingi – Nacogdoches Co, TX – photo by Matt Hollanders
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- Map by Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Siren i. nettingi occurs throughout much of east and southeast Texas southward into the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
LEGAL STATUS: The south Texas population of this species that was formerly known as the South Texas Lesser Siren or Rio Grande Lesser Siren (Siren intermedia texana) is listed by the State of Texas as a Threatened Species. The State only refers to this protected population as “South Texas Siren (large form) (Siren sp. 1)”.
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Siren intermedia nettingi (Goin, 1942)
Genus: Siren, Greek – seiren = mermaids of Greek myth — ref. physical traits described by Oesterdam, l769: no hind legs, curving tail and body.
Species: intermedia, Latin = in between — ref. intermediate size
Subspecies: nettingi, honors Morris Graham Netting
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jaeger 1962